Salvator Mundi made odds-on backers sweat before eventually coming good in the Sky Bet Club Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday.

Runner-up to the top-class Sir Gino on his only start in France, the five-year-old finished sixth in the Triumph Hurdle on his first run for Willie Mullins before making the most of having his sights lowered at Tipperary in the spring.

He was an 8/15 favourite to make a successful return in a Grade 2 contest the champion trainer has farmed in recent years, with Mikael D’Haguenet (2009), Vautour (2014), Douvan (2015) and Min (2016) among his 10 previous winners.

Salvator Mundi was keen from the off in the hands of Paul Townend and a mistake at the final flight before straightening up for home put him on the back foot.

The son of No Risk At All had to be ridden along to reel in those in front of him in the straight, but quickened up smartly to grab the lead between the final two flights and passed the post with three lengths in hand over stablemate Kel Histoire, who narrowly beat Relieved Of Duties to second.

One bookmker makes Salvator Mundi its 4/1 favourite from 5/1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, while another trimmed his odds to 3/1 from 6/1.

“He was fresh and it was messy, so I would say it was going to be hard to be impressive,” said Townend.

“We know he can jump but he didn’t jump well today because I couldn’t let him. He had to dig in then off the bend on tacky ground in the straight. He had to find plenty, it’s hard to be impressive on that ground but at least he won.

“He’ll have to build on it but I think he will. He has gears and on that ground it’s hard to use gears to the best effect. I’d say a stronger run race on looser ground, wetter ground even, would be a help to him.”

Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, said: “The engine is massive. After half a mile I thought this horse can’t win on his first run in six months when he’s pulling like that on heavy ground.

“Because he was keen Paul didn’t want to let him jump and he didn’t jump, so he’d every reason to get beaten and still won.

“It looked to me like he took a blow after the second-last and you could see Paul went down and gave him a squeeze and came with a run down to the last. He kept everything tight down to the last and there should be a lot of improvement there.

“I think in a faster run race, being let jump, he’ll improve. Paul couldn’t let him jump today because he would have been even keener and jumping his way to the front. I wouldn’t be worried about his jumping in a stronger run race.

“I think he’s probably had a hard race today and I wouldn’t be surprised if he went straight to Cheltenham.”

Mullins treble

Following the earlier success of Lecky Watson in the Grade 3 novice chase, Kappa Jy Pyke completed a Punchestown treble for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend with victory in the Sky Bet Acca Freeze Maiden Hurdle.

The French recruit had to make do with the silver medal when an odds-on favourite for his Irish debut at Cork last month and was an even-money shot to go one better at the second attempt.

Always up with the pace, Kappa Jy Pyke looked to have a real race on his hands on the run to the final flight, with market rival Don’tstopthemusic being produced with a well-timed challenge.

However, the latter suffered a crashing fall, leaving the Mullins runner in the clear and he had 17 lengths in hand over the eventual runner-up Brave Brigadier at the line.

Townend said: “It was a nice performance. He built on Cork well in every sense, jumping wise and the freshness was gone out of him with the benefit of the run.

“I thought he quickened up smartly down the straight. I was actually quite taken with him.

“The horse that beat us in Cork (Sky Lord) ran well in the race before (finished fourth in Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle), so the form was there if he built on it and I think he did.

“I didn’t know how the horse behind me was going but I was still picking up and I thought it would take a fair one to go by me.”

Maguire and O'Connell win

Finny Maguire steered Nine Graces to a clear-cut victory in the Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Amateur National Handicap Chase.

Barry Connell’s charge was an 11/4 chance to go one better than when second in a mares’ chase at Fairyhouse last month and was not hard pressed to score by four lengths from Prince Zaltar.

“We were kind of expecting that, she’s very fit,” said Connell.

“When she was running over hurdles, off a higher mark, three miles on soft ground was what she wanted.

“Her jumping was a revelation there, she was very quick. She’s not the biggest mare but she’s just very accurate.

“She might squeeze in, off her revised mark, into something nice – a nice staying handicap chase like the Leinster National in Naas.

“I’m delighted for Finny, who is working full time for us. He’s getting the opportunities as we’re splitting the rides between Sean (Flanagan) and himself. He’s a very good rider.”

The father-and-son team of Edward and Kieren Buckley combined to land the Sky Bet Build A Bet Beginners Chase with surprise winner Ney.

Following previous spells with Prunella Dobbs in Ireland and Danny Brooke in Britain, the seven-year-old was a 33/1 shot on his first start for new connections having been off the track since June and not run over obstacles since March 2023.

The seven-year-old jumped well on what was his chasing debut and was ultimately well on top as he passed the post with two and a quarter lengths in hand.

Trainer Edward Buckley said: “It’s his first run for us and it’s all down to Kieren. He said to me that the horse was going through the sales ring in Doncaster, I knew nothing about it, he said that he had won on him in Cork and he’d been in England for a while.

“I said we’d have a look at him and made a few phone calls and got a lad to have a look at him to make sure he wasn’t missing a leg or anything! I bought him online for £5,000 and the minute we got him home, I thought he was a right horse.

“He can’t half jump, he’s a big, strong lad and as brave as a lion. He won like he’d win again.”

Following a Saturday four-timer at Fairyhouse, Gavin Cromwell rounded off an excellent weekend’s work by saddling Londonofficecallin (7/1) to land the concluding Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Qualifier Handicap Hurdle.